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MILS NEWS 96-10-24Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <[email protected]>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 24 October, 1996[01] PRESIDENT OF NORTH-ATLANTIC ASSEMBLY IN SKOPJE TODAYKarsten Vogt - chair of the North-Atlantic Assembly - is to arrive in Skopje today upon invitation of Tito Petkovski, President of the Macedonian Parliament, according to the Macedonian National Radio. During his several-day visit Vogt will be received by head of state Kiro Gligorov, PM Branko Crvenkovski, Defense Secretary Blagoj Handzhiski and by representatives of several parliamentary commissions, the UNPREDEP command and the Municipal Council of Ohrid.[02] ACCREDITATION OF SWEDISH AMBASSADOR IN MACEDONIAH.E. Amb. Mac Staffanson of the Kingdom of Sweden submitted his letters of accreditation with Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov in Skopje yesterday, in the presence of Foreign Affairs Minister Ljubomir Frchkovski. The President expressed the hopes that relations between both countries will improve even more in the future - and he underlined the important role of Swedish troops within the UNPREDEP contingency. Such a strengthening of bilateral relations would also be of interest to thousands of Macedonian citizens living and working in Sweden - according to Gligorov.Ambassador Staffanson emphasised that since Sweden's recognition of Macedonia in April '93 an extremely active political interaction between both countries has been being established. He furthermore stressed that Sweden is fully supporting the Trade and Cooperation Treaty Macedonia signed with the EU in June this year. The same findings of strong collaboration on a parliamentary level were aired by the Ambassador and Tito Petkovski throughout their meeting. According to Macedonian National TV the newly-appointed Swedish Ambassador had also been received by PM Branko Crvenkovski, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ljubomir Frchkovski and Defense Secretary Blagoj Handzhiski. [03] MONITORING OF SOCIAL CONDITIONSThe Ambassador of the Republic of France to Macedonia, H.E. Jacques Huntzinger had a meeting with the Minister of Labour and Social Policy - Naser Ziberi. During this encounter the Macedonian official delved into economic and political reasons which brought about the deterioration of living standards and the overall social condition within the country. He also presented the government's efforts to instigate reform procedures within the social security and facilitate an improvement of the present situation.[04] ECONOMIC TRENDS THROUGHOUT THE PAST 9 MONTHS OF THE YEARYesterday the National Institute of Statistics once again presented some statistics regarding economic trends in Macedonia, according to which industrial production within the country has grown 4% throughout the past 9 months - particularly within electricity production, metallurgy, the production of transportation means and beverages. Based on the forecasts of the National Institute of Statistics the concrete volume of industrial production in Macedonia for '96 should amount to 3%.The Institute's data reveal that during the mentioned period the most negative trends were observed in international trade, with an export worth 583 million dollars, and an import worth one billion 27 million dollars. This implies that export covers 56.8% of overall import activities - and thus indicates the existing of a deficit of 443 million dollars. This is almost 200 million dollars more compared to last year's deficit for the same time span. A forecast of the Institute contains the possibility of covering import with export for 61.1% by the end of the year. Consumer prices, in opposition to this, are supposed to be 2% higher in December '96 compared to the same month last year. A rise has also been registered regarding unemployment figures throughout the first seven months of the year in comparison to 1995, for 12%, thus it currently amounts to 234 500. A positive increase - for a change - has been noticed with regards to the average national income for the last 9 months, its total of 8 444 denars represents a rise of 2.3%. In comparison to December '95 personal incomes are expected to undergo an increase of 7.8% this December. The National Statistical Institute of Macedonia also informed the attending that out of 90 160 legally registered companies in Macedonia around 45 000 are actually operating at the moment. [05] SKOPJE OIL REFINERY 'OKTA' SUSPENDS PRODUCTIONAs A-1 TV reports the 'Okta' Oil Refinery suspended its production of oil derivatives due to the divergence of domestic and world oil prices (the former has been frozen by the Macedonian government - and controlled by it, whereas the latter move close to 24 $ per barrel) - and to the fact that it had suffered a loss of 4 million dollars while processing the last tanker of crude oil. The Macedonian Ministry of Economy, however, states that there will neither be a shortage of oil derivatives nor an increasing of their cost. It has also been said that there are enough oil reserves in Macedonia to cover the county's needs till the end of this year. The above mentioned Ministry has also been compiling documentation necessary for companies which would be enabled to import oil derivatives unrestrictedly.According to 'Dnevnik' the government has already issued permits for an intervention import of 15 000 tons of refined petrol, in order to augment reserves. [06] IMF CREDIT LINKED TO CHANGES IN TAX REGIMEDuring an interview for the National Macedonian Radio, Finance Secretary Taki Fiti emphasised that the new three- year credit currently being discussed with the IMF represents a very favourable loan which does entail the implementation of a particular programme - especially in terms of taxation. Yet Fiti claims that there will be no spectacular changes in that respect, but rather a series of corrections of the current tax system. One of the burning issues is the possible decrease of revenue tax from 30% to 15%. This has been assessed to be unrealistic - so that the final percentage is expected to amount to 25%. Most of these issues should be clarified considerably after negotiations with the IMF - as this institution devotes a lot of attention to the fiscal sphere.[07] MINISTER POPOVSKI: OPPOSITION PLAYING GAMES WITH STATE AUTHORITIESThe request of a few opposition parties to meet the Justice Secretary, the National Election Committee and the National Voter Registration Committee without forwarding a formal request and notes after the preliminary meetings - represents a farce involving state authorities and services and a competition in conjecture...stated Justice Secretary Vlado Popovski during yesterday's press conference. In this context Popovski also stressed that up to that very day the National Election Committee had not received any note by any party - and that the same applied to the National Voter Registration Committee. Therefore there have not been any kind of meetings with representatives of the Liberal party, of IMRO-DPMNE and the Democratic Party.According to A-1 TV, and in reply to opposition accusations on breaking the law on local elections by denying access to voters' registers, Minister Popovski said that there had been a misinterpretation of a release issue by the Justice Dept. which states that acc. to article 18 of the Bill on Voters' Registration access was only allowed to the general register of voters till 25th October, whereas access will certainly not be denied following the expiry of that time frame. Denying concrete remarks regarding the reliability of these registers Minister Popovski stressed that they covered 98.8%, i.e. the up-dated version designed for the impending local elections accounted for 1 495 285 voters and 16 929 other persons. He furthermore revealed that votes could be cast at 2 630 polling stations, and that total figures regarding voters would be issued on 31st October, divided into separate municipal units. In the end Popovski also mentioned that voters would not receive an individual invitation to cast their vote as in the '94 elections - since this approach proved to be rather impractical. Thus voters would be informed through the media. The Constitutional Court of Macedonia had reached the decision not to take any action upon the request of the DP concerning the irrevocability of nominations - codified within the Bill on Local Elections, during its regular session yesterday. The Court estimated that the written accepting of a nomination is a result of prior selection of the candidate - who consents to be nominated by a political party or a group of voters out of his_her own accord. These days media have also repeatedly pointed out the fact that the LP is placing its campaign posters in prohibited locations - as well as the fact that the City assembly has determined 80 sites for the purpose of ensuring equal opportunities to each party throughout the local elections. The LP responded to this by saying that the SDSM had placed its posters at the prescribed locations in Kisela Voda over the posters of the LP. [08] RUMOURS THAT PUPILS HAVE BEEN POISONED WITH SUBSTANCE IMPORTED FROM ITALY SPREADING THROUGH TETOVOAs Macedonian National radio reports there have been no new cases of poisoning of Albanian pupils - caused by 'substances' of unknown origin - throughout the Medical Centres of Tetovo and its surroundings.Following preliminary findings of the WHO - based on which there is no evidence of toxicological or infective causes for this syndrome in the Tetovo region - the above named source reports rumours spreading through the area that the 'poisoning' had been caused by a military poison imported from Italy. PDPA representative Meduh Aliti claims that a 'report as predictable and as balanced' as the preliminary one complied by the WHO was to be expected, and that the final version was not likely to ever reach the public in Macedonia for the sake of stability. Aliti also mentioned that there are more than 2 000 military poisons that cannot be traced - though they are quite efficient. PDP President Abduraham Ailiti said he respected the findings of domestic and international experts - but there had to be some sort of explanation for what had happened. According to him this is an issue of humanity, and the state will have to find out who caused such suffering with innocent pupils. [09] ACT ON CONSEQUENT USE OF STANDARD MACEDONIAN LANGUAGEThe Society for the Use of Standard Macedonian Language in Official and Public Communication forwarded an initiative to the government of Macedonia regarding the passing of an Act on the Consequent Use of Standard Macedonian Language in Official and Public Communication, according to 'Makpress'.The written appeal of the Society attributes this initiative to the fact that the use of Standard Macedonian -as the official language - has become increasingly negligent and inconsistent. The document is also addressed to all Macedonian citizens, organisations, institutions, companies, agencies and associations - in addition to all political parties, leaders and officials to support this motion and the subsequent enactment of such a law. [10] TURKISH COLLEGE WITH CLASSES IN ENGLISH AND MACEDONIAN TO OPEN SOON IN SKOPJEAs 'Dnevnik' reports the new Turkish 'Yahya Kemal' College for Boys will commence its work on 4th November. It will admit high-school pupils and conduct instruction in English (by Turkish teachers) in mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology and computer science - whereas all other subjects will be taught in Macedonian. Turkish will be an optional subject, but students will not be required to study it. The college will only admit boys since all students will have to be accommodated within the adjoining boarding school, regardless to where they are from. The 'Yahya Kemal' represents a private educational institution which has its schools in more than 400 countries throughout the world - and its graduates will be eligible to continue their education in Turkey, the US and in Macedonia.[11] INTERCONTINENTAL WRESTLING CUP IN RADOVISHThe finals of the European Champions' Wrestling Cup is to be staged in Radovish between the 9th and 10th November - according to Macedonian National TV. This will be the first event of its kind in Macedonia - gathering athletes of four continents (Europe, America, Asia & Africa). The tournament will mark the centenary of the modern Olympic movement - and the current European Champion - the Radovish team 'Buchim' - will represent Macedonia.MILS SUPPLEMENT[12] 'Anonymous Bomb Threats - Dangerous Games'('Nova Makedonija', 23rd October 1996)Approximately 10 anonymous bomb threats have been registered in the capital of Macedonia this year. Police does not seem to be able to prevent this worrisome trend - in spite of taking all necessary measures. The anonymous bomb threat regarding the 'Nikola Karev' Secondary School placed last week added a rather worrisome dimension to this plague of false anonymous threats. Citizens of this city have been terrorized by such calls about ten times throughout this year already. These incidents have reached their culmination - according to security analysts - when in comparison to the past couple of years the placing of anonymous bomb threats grew into a 'dangerous pastime'. The targets as a rule are mainly educational institutions or other highly frequented objects. In spite of the fact that all registered anonymous bomb threats up to now have been 'false alarms' - according to Dencho Naumovski, head of the Analysis Dept. of the Skopje Police HQ - all of them entail an identical mode of operation. This means that all necessary steps are taken, starting with the evacuation of people up to detailed investigations and further surveillance of the object. Police data reveals that according to the anonymous calls the most frequently 'blown up' building is the bingo hall next to the 'Vardar' cinema - with four 'bombs'. This object is followed by the Institute of Chemistry of the Faculty of Pure Sciences which was completely evacuated and searched twice within the last 20 days (the last search being at the beginning of the month). A phenomenon of this sort is, however, hard to explain by security analysts. It has first been registered towards the close of the 80s, and one of its most characteristic features is that the offenders are almost never caught. To even determine the location of the caller requires sophisticated electronic equipment which is not available at any police station of the countries capital at the moment. An additional difficulty to this is the fact that such anonymous bomb threats are first addressed to the 'chosen' object, whereas the police is contacted by the latter. Such was the 'Nikola Karev' bomb threat last week where the offender first called the school's management giving them a good scare prior to special units of the police. Another side effect which logically goes along the increased occurrence of these dangerous games, is the fear and worry it breeds with the public The latter is quite natural, particularly when one finds his_her offspring at home instead of school with the explanation that 'classes were off because of a bomb in the building!' This adds a completely new dimension to a coarse hoax, quite understandably so. Police claim that for the time being there is no way of putting an end to this, or to even get close to apprehending the offenders. (end)mils news 24 October 1996Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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